Ruby in Paradise

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0:31

Ruby in Paradise

R

1993

1h 55m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Ruby Lee Gissing (Ashley Judd) is on the run, determined to find something better than the closed rough life in the mountains of East Tennessee. She flees to a place once visited as a child, the "Redneck Riviera" of Panama City Beach. Arriving during the off-season, Ruby finds work in a gift shop owned by Mildred Chambers (Dorothy Lyman). Always on an emotional and economic edge, Ruby begins to keep a journal, "trying to figure out the whys of running off, of coming here." Ruby's desire to find her own way, to make her own choices, to explore her appetites in her own good time, gets her in and out of trouble as she moves through Winter into the frantic madness of Spring Break and beyond. The resolution of Ruby's journey is both unexpected and hopeful as Ruby indeed finds her own way in "paradise."

Critics Consensus

Led by a magnetic performance from Ashley Judd, the gently subdued Ruby in Paradise perceptively captures one woman's journey of self-discovery.

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EW Staff

Entertainment Weekly

The film ends up being about whether she'll land on her feet, when what we really want to see is whether she can stand tall.

Rated: C+

Feb 4, 2021

Full Review

Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

This is a warm, perceptive film of everyday life, free of epic tragedy, yet it reveals the courage it can take to strike out on one's own and to take charge of one's own destiny.

Feb 4, 2021

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The tempo is slow and dreamy, but the flavor is rich, and it lasts.

Feb 4, 2021

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Liam Trump

Film Threat

Even though Ruby in Paradise may be lacking when it comes to pacing, there's still plenty to like.

Rated: 5/10

Apr 12, 2021

Full Review

Linda Cook

OurQuadCities / WHBF-TV (Illinois)

This film is well worth seeing.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 26, 2021

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Steve Persall

Tampa Bay Times

Ashley Judd has all the makings of a big movie star.

Rated: A-

Feb 4, 2021

Full Review

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Victor Nunez

Director

Ashley Judd

Ruby Lee Gissing

Todd Field

Mike McCaslin

Bentley Mitchum

Ricky Chambers

Allison Dean

Rochelle Bridges

Dorothy Lyman

Mildred Chambers

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70%

49%

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Ruby in Paradise: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Ruby Lee Gissing (Ashley Judd) is on the run, determined to find something better than the closed rough life in the mountains of East Tennessee. She flees to a place once visited as a child, the "Redneck Riviera" of Panama City Beach. Arriving during the off-season, Ruby finds work in a gift shop owned by Mildred Chambers (Dorothy Lyman). Always on an emotional and economic edge, Ruby begins to keep a journal, "trying to figure out the whys of running off, of coming here." Ruby's desire to find her own way, to make her own choices, to explore her appetites in her own good time, gets her in and out of trouble as she moves through Winter into the frantic madness of Spring Break and beyond. The resolution of Ruby's journey is both unexpected and hopeful as Ruby indeed finds her own way in "paradise."

Director: Victor Nunez
Screenwriter: Victor Nunez
Distributor: Alta Films S.A., October Films
Production Co: Ruby in Paradise, Full Crew/Say Yea
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 8, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 16, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $77.6K
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Stereo